Study of contribution of low level of plasma endothelin-1 concentration to pathogenesis of glaucomatous optic neuropathy

Abstract

Purpose: To study of contribution of plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentration to pathogenesis of glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
Subjects and Methods: We examined plasma ET-1 concentrations in 102 patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG), 90 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and 78 age-matched non-glaucomatous subjects (CONT). In addition, the relationship between the plasma ET-1 concentrations and glaucoma stages were also studied.
Results: Plasma ET-1 concentrations of patients with NTG (3.34 ± 1.27 pg/ml, P<0.01) and POAG (3.80 ± 1.40 pg/ ml, P<0.05) were significantly lower than those of CONT (4.39 ± 1.34 pg/ml). No relation was observed between these plasma ET-1 concentrations and glaucoma stages in NTG and POAG.
Conclusions: These results indicate that plasma ET-1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of glaucomatous optic neuropathy.